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'SCHOOL;' 



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THE STORY OF BELLA MARKS. 

_ __:ladelphia: J^f^ ^p^fe^ 

>ER JOB PRINTING OFFICE. ^^''^^^T 
1869. ^"^"/ll 



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SCHOOL;' 



OR, 



THE STOHY OF BELLA MARKS. 



T. W. ROBERTSON, 

AUTHOR OF "home," " CASTE," " OURS," ETC. 



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PHILADELPHIA: 

LEDGER JOB PRINTING OFFICE. 

1869. 



2y. 




Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by 

JOSEPH E. JACKSON, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, 
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 




SCHOOL;" 

OR, 

THE STORY OF BELLA MARKS". 



The story of Cinderella will never grow old. 
It has an indescribable enchantment when re- 
hearsed at the fireside, or on the stage ; and 
will live for all time in the charming melodies 
by which the great Rossini has made it promi- 
nent in lyric history. 

The story we have to tell of Bella Marks 
may not suirvive so long, or become so generally 
known, but has an interest similar to that of 
the heroine of the little glass slipper. 

Bella's parents were born to affluence, but 
the dissipation of her father, a wild, reckless 
fellow, who married without x^arental sanction, 
and by so doing was discarded, they early suf- 
fered in the harassing trials which are the 
inseparable companions of poverty. Her father 
died shortly after Bella's birth, and her mother 
survived him only a few years. She had found 
a friend in a good old lady by the name of 
Marks, whose home was in a town a short re- 
move from London, who comforted her last 



hours, and adopted the little orphan who was 
thus left to the charity of the world. 

Bella grew in grace and beauty, and when 
the good Mrs. Marks was no longer able to pro- 
vide for her, the attention of Dr. Sutcliffe, 
principal of a young ladies seminary adjacent 
to the town, was attracted to the orphan, and 
he kindly offered her a home. Here she soon 
won the affection of the kindly doctor, and his 
somewhat irascible wife, as well as the good 
will of the young ladies who were pupils at 
Cedar Grove, as the seminary was called. She 
was loved by every one, including Mr. Krux, 
the usher, a mean-spirited but ambitious rascal, 
but by none more than Naomi Tighe, an or- 
phan heiress. "Nummy" Tighe was Bella's 
inseparable companion, and there was no joy 
or sorrow which they did not share. 

As Bella was not a boarder, but a dependent, 
she was obliged to perform many duties from 
which the other young ladies were exempt. 
She was the best scholar in the school, yet was 
expected to run of errands, milk the cows, help 
the cook, and make herself useful in the various 
needs of housework ; and in addition to these 
works of a menial, she in time became a pri- 
mary teacher, and gave much care and atten- 
tion to the instruction of the younger scholars. 

The boarders, however, courted her society, 
and in all their recreations she was the leading 
spirit. One of the most popular diversions was 
I)ic-nic-ing in the grove near the seminary, 



where, tired of swinging and playing, they 
would surround Bella, and call for a story. 
Bella was an excellent reader, and the history 
of Cinderella being her especial favorite, it was 
so often repeated that the whole school grew 




familiar with every incident pertaining to the 
time when 

"Once a prince there chanced to be 
Who to marry, to marry had a mind." 

In the grove, one day, when Cinderella had 
been read, and the young ladies dispersed for 
their rambles, Mr. Krux, the usher whom we 
have mentioned, met Bella as she was return- 
ing to the house on an errand, and declared his 
ardent passion for the young lady. He spe- 



6 

ciously pleaded that the Sutcliffe's were too old 
to much longer continue the seminary, and, 
were Bella his wife, they could manage the 
institution to their mutual pleasure and advan- 
tage. Of a nature noble, generous and grateful, 
the proposal shocked Bella, and she indignantly 
repelled the advance thus made by Krux, and 
spoke so feelingly and with such force of his 
baseness and heartlessness, that from a hopeful 
lover he became an implacable enemy, and im- 
proved every opportunity which subsequently 
offered to harass, insult and injure the young 
lady. 

We must now introduce some other person- 
ages of importance in our story. The first is 
Mr. Percy Farintosh, an old gentleman of 
wealth and fashion, the dissipation of whose 
younger days have forced him to abstemious- 
ness in his older ones ; but who is ambitious of 
appearing the "beau," which his vanity has 
induced his friends to call him. Mr. Farintosh, 
as we first see him, is a padded, rouged and be- 
wigged old gentleman, whose attempts at 
youthful airiness of manner contrast strangely 
with his manifold and manifest infirmities. 
He is the owner of a " shooting-box" adjacent 
to Cedar Grove Seminary, and has come from 
London with his nephew, his nephew's friend, 
and a retinue of servants, to pass a few days in 
the country. 

Beau Farintosh was a widower for many 
years, and never having learned more of a son 



whom he had discarded than that he died, and 
that his widow was also dead, with a vague 
rumor that they had left behind them a child, 
an orphan to the world, his nephew, Lord Ar- 
thur Beaufoy, was regarded as heir presumptive 
to his estates. Lord Arthur was really a splen- 
did fellow, and his friend, Mr. Jack Poyntz, 
was a young man of good family, very com- 




panionable for his intelligence, probity and the 
many varied accomplishments he j)ossessed. 
Poyntz won laurels in the Crimea, where he 
proved himself a gallant soldier. 

We make the acquaintance of this trio of 
gentlemen in the grove, where they have come 
to partake of a lunch. The young men have 
been shooting, and meet the Beau and his ser- 
vants by appointment. The old gentleman is 



loquacious, and boastful of his youthful ex- 
ploits ; but his age and infirmities prevents his 
enjoying with the young men tlie edibles and 
wines which his servants so bountifully offer. 
During the lunch he mentioned the death of 
his son, and his great anxiety to learn whether 
his grandchild was dead or living. He would 
give all he possessed to discover *' the offspring 
of poor Fred's marriage." 

He informed the young men that one object 
of their present visit was the acceptance of an 
invitation he had received from his old friends, 
the Sutcliffe's, to be present at the examination 
of their school ; and he was desirous that Ar- 
tliur should make the acquaintance of Miss 
Naomi Tighe (the heiress whom we have men- 
tioned as Bella's friend), with a view to matri- 
mony, as he had already obtained the sanction 
of that young lady's guardians for the event if 
it could be consummated. Arthur objected to 
being pressed into the matrimonial harness, 
whilst Poyntz avowed his willingness to ven- 
ture anywhere, if plenty of money rewarded 
the hazard. Both the young men expressed 
their willingness to attend school, and left the 
lunch to finish shooting, and the Beau was 
escorted home by servants for his usual noon 
repose. 

We should have mentioned that Bella's out- 
jDOuring of scorn on Krux was somewhat 
abruptly ended by a report of firearms, which 
gave her excuse for making a hasty exit from 



the grove ; and before the usher had recovered 
from the chagrin consequent to his repulse, 
Lord Arthur appeared, to inquire for his com- 
panion, from whom he separated wliilst gun- 
ning. Krux was in no mood for pleasant con- 
verse, and also found excuse in a second report 
from a gun to make a sudden departure. This 
second shot was fired by Capt. Jack Poyntz, 
who saw an infuriated bull in chase of two 
young ladies, and killed the animal to save 
them from harm. Bella and Naomi Tighe 
were the parties thus protected, and in the 
fright the former lost her own slipper and a 
pair of overshoes she was carrying to Mrs. Sut- 
clifFe. The slipper was picked up by Lord 
Arthur, and the overshoes found by Mr. Poyntz. 
The young ladies were of course very grateful 
to the gallant gentlemen who had rendered 
them such signal help, and Arthur was nettled 
that his friend's usual luck gave him honors 
which he would have gladly won himself. A 
pleasant interview between the parties ended 
by the ladies joining their companions in a re- 
turn to the school, not, however, till they had 
made the gentlemen acquainted with their 
names, and their relative positions in the insti- 
tution. Lord Beaufoy had become desperately 
enamored of Bella, and Poyntz confessed to a 
warm regard for Miss Tighe. 

The next day the Beau and his friends visited 
the Sutcliffe's at the seminary, and were inter- 
ested witnesses at the examination. Bella's 



10 

aptitude and proficiency in all the various 
branches of study, made her appear to better 
advantage than any of the boarding pupils, 
and increased the admiration which Lord 
Beaufoy ah'eady entertained for her. 




Before the examination had ended, Mr. 
Krux, the usher, called tlie attention of Mrs. 
SutclifFe to the fact tliat tlie cook had the din- 
ner in readiness. The lady made as an excuse 
for dispensing witli the usher's company at 
table, that one more guest than was expected 
was present, and left him to continue the 
school studies. Before Mr. Krux appeared in 
the class-room, he had visited the kitchen, as 
was evident from the flour and dust on his coat 
sleeve. The pupils had many hearty laughs at 



11 

his expense before he discovered the cause of 
their hilarity. He at once ordered Bella to 
bring a brush, and, upon her appearing with 
one, he commanded her to brush him. This 
indignity Bella refused to submit to ; and 
upon the mean fellow's threatening her with 
violence, the pupils, rallied by the generous 
and impulsive Naomi Tighe, treated him to 
such a shower of books, slates, ink-pots and 
rulers, that he was glad to make an ignomin- 
ious retreat. 

During the stay of Beau Farintosh and his 
friends at the Seminary, the acquaintance of 
Lord Beaufoy and Bella ripened into mutual 
affection, and Poyntz grew desperately in love 
with Naomi Tighe. Both couples indulged in 
harmless flirtations, and had pleasant moon- 
light strolls in the shrubbery. Intelligence of 
an important nature came to the Beau, and he 
made a hasty departure for Lt)ndon, leaving the 
young men to return to his shooting-box at 
their pleasure. Immediately after their de- 
parture, Krux, the usher, made report to Mrs. 
Sutcliffe of the intimacy he had detected exist- 
ing between Lord Beaufoy and Bella, and the 
ill-will he entertained for the young lady in- 
duced him to give representations so detrimental 
to her character as to occasion her summary 
dismissal from the school. A ring which Lord 
Beaufoy had placed on her finger was made to 
appear as conclusive evidence of folly and wrong. 
Bewildered and amazed at the foul charges made 



12 

against her honor, Bella made no plea or ex- 
planation, and she found herself shunned by 
the pupils and discarded by the mistress. The 
good old Doctor had faith in her innocence, but 
his wife would not tolerate any show of sym- 
pathy by him. In her great agony she was 
joined by Naomi Tighe, who begged to accom- 
pany her, and offered her jewels and some few 




pounds in money to defray expenses. The 
vengeful Krux frustrated her good intentions 
by bringing Mrs. SutclifFe to witness the scene, 
and Naomi was forced into the house, whilst 
Bella held herself in readiness to depart for a 
temporary home which would be provided for 
her by Mrs. Sutcliffe. 
After Bella's dismissal from Cedar Grove, all 



13 

traces of hev were lost. Where she had gone 
no one seemed to know, although every exer- 
tion was made by Poyntz, instigated by Naomi 
Tighe, to discover her retreat. Word reached 
the school that Beau Farintosh had been pros- 
trated by a serious illness, from which he prov- 
identially recovered, and Avas a changed man. 
He had discarded rouge, and the other artifices 
by which he endeavored to affect juvenility, 




and was sedate and sober as became one of his 
age. He soon after made a visit to the Sut- 
clifFe's, and astonished them with the intelli- 
gence that he had a grand-daughter living, and 
that she was one of their pupils. He related 
how for years he had untiringly sought her out, 
and was in an ecstasy of joy when he traced 
her to them. His son had so frequently changed 



14 

his name whilst living to avoid creditors, that 
after his death his daughter-in-law assumed her 
own name, and on her dying the child took 
that of Marks, from an old lady who was its 
foster-mother. He inquired for his dear Bella, 
and his abject grief on being told that she had 
clandestinely disappeared with Lord Beaufoy, 
may be imagined but not described. Krux was 
the only one who had heart to impart the un- 
welcome intelligence. As it should happen, 
Lord Beaufoy made his appearance unexpect- 
edly at this moment, and was overwhelmed 
with questions by the Beau, the Sutcliffes, and 
Naomi. The old man begged him to x)roduce 
her, and asked him to marry her, freely offer- 
ing all the wealth he possessed as her dowry. 
Lord Beaufoy assured them that Bella was well 
and happy, but he could not marry her, as he 
was already secretly married. This assertion 
was made with such an apparent effrontery, 
that the indignation of his hearers was aroused, 
and even Jack Poyntz refused his proffered 
hand. Dr. Sutciiffe indignantly ordered him 
to leave the premises, which the lord expressed 
a willingness to do, if they would first give 
him the privilege of introducing his wife. 
Her coming, with carriage and footmen, had 
been noted by the pupils, who ran to apprize 
Mrs. Sutciiffe of the approach of a beautiful 
lady in rich and lordly equipage. The visitor 
proved to be Bella Farintosh, grand-daughter 
of Mr. Percy Farintosh, and cousin to her hus- 



15 

band, Lord Arthur Beaufoy. Krux and the 
pupils recognized her as Bella Marks. The 
old grandfather, the Sutcliffe's, and Naomi 
Tighe were in ecstasies, and the pupils were re- 
minded of the analogy of her fortunes and 
those of Cinderella, by Lord Arthur presenting 
her with a pair of beautiful glass slipx)ers. 

We need only say further that Poyntz found 
favor with Naomi's guardians, as he had already 
with that lady, and another pupil was taken 
from school to assume the duties of wife. 

From the foregoing simple story, Mr. T. W. 
Robertson has, under the title of "School," 
framed one of the most charming plays that 
has been presented to an audience within the 
past fifty years. On the next page will be 
found one of the many favorable notices of the 
London Press in relation to this beautiful pro- 
duction. 



16 



From Reynolds' (London) Newspaper. 

This is another great success by Mr. T. W. Robertson. 
"School" is perhaps the happiest of all its author's pro- 
ductions, and, indeed, it would be difficult, if not im- 
possible, for the critic to pick a hole either in its plot, 
its dialogue, its acting, or its scenery. The first is simple 
enough, the second is positively worthy of Sheridan in 
his happiest moments, the third is faultless, and the 
fourth is pretty, picturesque, and deliciously rural. 
The dialogue is dashed with several hits at the prevail- 
ing follies and frivolities of the day, couched in the 
happiest vein of playful satire. Tiie interest of the 
story is so admirably maintained during the four acts, 
the dialogue is so pointed and pleasant, and the acting 
so excellent, that the fall of the curtain, instead of, as is 
often the case, being a positive relief, causes universal 
regret that the two hours and a half of genuine amuse- 
ment afforded by the comedy have come to a close. We 
have seldom the pleasant duty of recording so genuine, 
so complete, and so thoroughly well-deserved a .success 
as Mr. Robertson's charming coraedy has achieved— a 
success that must raise the reputation of the author to j 
tliat of very first rank of living dramatists. 



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